How to Replace Chevy Malibu Headlights

Just like any other car headlights, the Chevy Malibu headlights play a great role to ensure the safety of the riders on road. By emitting lights from the front of the car, the Chevy Malibu headlights make the car visible for others and make the road visible for the driver while driving in night. However, function of the Chevy Malibu headlights is not limited in nights only; rather headlights make the roads visible in foggy or rainy weathers too. Therefore, if the headlights of your Malibu are broken or damaged, you should make a prompt replacement of the Chevy Malibu headlights.

Replacing the Chevy Malibu headlights of a car is not at all a difficult job as headlights are designed to have prongs that fit into a wiring socket so that they can easily be installed and removed, and even a driver can do it himself. Are you not feeling confident about changing the headlights on your own? Read below the steps to discover how easily you can change Chevy Malibu headlights of your Malibu.

Step 1

Start replacement process by making sure the ignition key is in the off position and the Chevy Malibu headlight switch is off. Now, release the hood latch.

Step 2

Open the hood of Malibu and find out the top of the headlight assembly where you are going to change the headlights. Now locate the central bolt of the plastic shroud and remove it using a ratchet and a socket. To gain access to the Chevy Malibu headlights, you need to lift the shroud out of the way. Some models of Malibu feature a snap-release shroud, which requires no tools to remove.

Step 3

The next step is to find the brackets on the top rear of each side of the Chevy Malibu headlights assembly. Now pull up the brackets and align the hole on the bottom of each bracket to the retaining tabs on the assembly.

Step 4

Now without hampering the bumper, take the headlight assembly forward away from the Malibu. Then unseat the three guide pins.

Step 5

By giving support to the Chevy Malibu headlights assembly with one hand, use your other hand to locate and un-clip the wire harness from the back of the bulb socket. Remove the bulb by turning it counterclockwise 1/3 of a turn to align the release tabs of the ring and the assembly. Take the bulb out of the Chevy Malibu headlight assembly.

Step 6

Now, carefully insert the new Chevy Malibu headlight bulb into the ring and then check whether the tabs of the ring and the tabs of the headlight assembly are rightly aligned. Push the new bulb inside and twist clockwise 1/3 of a turn to lock the new bulb. Reattach the wire harness. Put the headlight assembly back inside the cavity and then check whether the Chevy Malibu headlights are working properly or not.

Step 7

The last step of replacing the Chevy Malibu headlights is to align the three guide pins to their seats and push the headlight assembly back into them gently until they fit into place. Then replace the retaining brackets and the shroud, if applicable. Remove the tools and old bulb and close the hood of your Malibu.

Remember, halogen bulbs contain gas under pressure. Improper handling of a bulb could cause it to shatter into flying glass fragments. Therefore, while replacing the Chevy Malibu headlights follow the below measures to avoid personal injury:

* Before changing the bulb turn off the lamp switch and allow the bulb to cool.
* Switch the lamp off until the bulb change is complete.
* Make sure you are wearing eye protection while changing a halogen bulb.
* Avoid touching the glass and handle the bulb only by its base.
* Properly dispose of the used bulb.

Before you fix the Chevy Malibu headlights, however, make sure you have checked the user manual that came with the headlight package. Remember, if you are not confident of replacing the Chevy Malibu headlights yourself, trusting a professional mechanic for the job is highly recommended.